The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-04-16
aoLp.EAcEp DEAD MEN.
Banisl,ing Grave-Yards by the Adoption Of
the Plating Process.

Banishing Grnve-Yards by the Adoption Of
the Electro Plating Process.
An ingenious Philadelphian has de.
vised process for the preservation Of
bodies which will cause blush of envy
and modification to mantle the wrinkled
cheek Of the most ancient mummy the
tombs Of Egypt can produce. BY this
new method future generations may
have the pleasure of gazing upon their
ancestry in close semblanco of their
natural form, with shape and outline
carefully preserved and the whole body
bcautified beyond the utmost possibili-
ties of nature. No more will departed
friends and relatives bo treasured mp as
bundles of rags and bones or as pinchcs
of ashes in cinerary urns, but in the
full form and size of their ante-mortem
existence. The means by which this
wonderful transformation is to be ac-
complished is but new application OF
an old principle long in use in mechanic
arts. 1t is simply the old and familiar
process of electro-pating, which fur.
nishes modern households with so many
articles of ornament and utility.
The method of its application in tho
preservation of bodies is as follows:
The corpse is first thoroughly washed
with alcohol, or with solution of
caustic potash followed by very dilute
nitric acid. in order to cleanse the body
and remove all traces of oily or greasy
rI'1,n,, tb,, 81 "a
the body, from which all hair must be
entirely removed, is busted over with
finely powdered plumbago, care being
taken to cover every portion of the sur
face. AS the purpose of the plumbago
is to furnish conducting surface, any
uncovered spot upon the corpse would
cause break in the plating. The
Africanized remnant of humanity is
then immersed in a bath of metallic
solution containing lump of the metal
with which it is desired to coat the body.
To the piece of metal is attached the
positive pole of IL strong galvanic bat
terry or powerful dynamo-elcctric ma
chine, and the negative pole is con-
nected with the body. The action of
the powerful current of electricity inn
mediately commences, covering the
body with a fine film of metal, which is
deposited evenly over the entire surface.
AS long rs the electrical current is un-
interrupted the deposit of the metal
continues. and the coating may thus be
made of any desired thickness. In a
length of time proportioned to the
strength of the electrical current the
entire body may be enveloped in q
metallic shroud an eighth or quarter
of an inch in thickness. or even more il
desired. BY this impervious coat the
remains are thus perfectly protected
from decay, and may be preserved foi
an indefinite number of years.
Outside of its advantages as a method
of preserving remains this process has
great commercial and artistic value.
The morgues of the various large cities
would furnish an ample supply of ma
terial which might easily be worked uE
into nickel-plated dummies for use by
clothicrs and dry goods merchants in
displaying garments and dress goods
With limbs and body arranged in grace
full postures, an unclaimed body could
readily be transformed into a valuabl,
work of art. Dying gladiators, wrest
lers and Greek and Roman figures coult
be reproduced in unlimited numbers
Thus the unknown suicide and bodies
fishcd from ponds and rivers could fine
final resting places in art museums ol
fashionable parlors instead of being cu
and sawed asunder by the ambition.
medical student.
One can readily imagine the feeling!
of pride with which the man of hun.
dred years hence would lead his visitor
into his mortuary chamber and poin
out each member of his silver-platet
ancestry, beautifully polished and nat
uraily grouped about the room. There
would be in those days no need for al
expensive burial lot in Il fashionable
cemetery. and there would be no us'
for the costly and ostentatious funera
of to-day. In those days the under
taker would simply be an expert electro
platter, and instead of roomful o
sample collins and caskets he woult
simply exhibit few pieces of polished
metal and inquire of his customer
"How would you like to have the de
ceased tinished-in copper, nickel, silver
or gold?"
To the man Of the future who has s
taste for art and antiques this process:
offers great possibilities. Ancestor:
plated with silver or nickel would bt
far more artistic ornaments than tht
rusty and ancient suits of armor which
are so highly priced in these days
Armed with lance and shield Il grand
father thus prepared would furnish i
valuable addition to any collection o
antiques and bric-a-brac. Beautiful ef
fects could be produced by plating
bodies with copper, which by atmos
pheric action soon assumes the appear
ance of beautiful bronze. BY the ust
of plush or velvet these bronzes coul(
easily be mouxted after the fashion o.
to-day. A copper-covered relative. wei
finished and polished, might be exhib
tied rs an excellent specimen of repouss'
work. The use of gold would produc,
n piece ofpreserved pedigree more valu